U.S. Congressman Bill Flores (R-Texas) along with Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) introduced legislation today to recognize and establish the internationally recognized Waco, Texas paleontological site as a discovery of national significance. The Waco Mammoth Site has been analyzed and studied by Baylor University and the City of Waco since being unearthed in 1978. Near the confluence of the Brazos and Bosque Rivers, on 100-plus acres of wooded park land, lie the remains of more than two dozen Columbian Mammoths ranging in age from 3 to 55 years old. It is believed that approximately 68,000 years ago, rapidly rising waters from the Bosque River flooded the area and drowned the animals. The Waco site is believed to be the world’s largest concentration of Columbian Mammoths to die in a single event. In 2006, the Waco Mammoth Foundation, a non-profit organization of local citizens, helped to make the site a public park. The Waco Mammoth Site museum and archaeological attraction, which officially opened to the public at the end of 2009, attracts visitors from all over the world. This bill, introduced in both the House and Senate, would designate the site as the Waco Mammoth National Monument and include it as a unit of the National Park Service.
“I am proud to work with Senator Cornyn and Senator Hutchison to recognize this remarkably unique scientific discovery located in our own backyard,” said Congressman Flores. “This legislation would give Central Texas the opportunity to lay claim to the unique history of an extinct species, while providing education and enjoyment for families and students visiting from all over the country and throughout the world and benefitting future generations for many years to come. As visitors and researchers grow to understand and interpret the behavior and biology of the mammoths, this national recognition would allow us to maximize the value of the Waco Mammoth National Monument as a true national treasure.”
“I am proud to continue the fight to designate the Waco Mammoth site as a national monument and I commend the local partners in Waco for their commitment to this effort and their willingness to work together. With a financial commitment from the local partners, this legislation will confer the national recognition that this unique site deserves – without adding to the federal budget and backlog at the National Park Service,” said Sen. Cornyn. “I look forward to continuing to work with Sen. Hutchison on this effort as well as Congressman Bill Flores, who has joined our efforts to make this national recognition a reality.”
“I am proud of the work that the residents of Waco and Baylor University have done to protect this unique and important spot of land. This legislation is necessary to provide Waco with the support of the National Park Service that would ensure the preservation of the site and help promote tourism. This is an excellent opportunity for us to showcase one of the earliest chapters of our state's rich history and share our proud discovery with the world,” said Sen. Hutchison.
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